Tourism Policy launch December – The Times Group Malawi

The National Tourism Policy (NTP) which is crafted to facilitate growth of the sector’s share to the economy is set for launching in December, the Ministry of Tourism has said.

The policy which was approved by Cabinet earlier this year aims at transforming the sector into a major source of foreign exchange, job and wealth creation for the country.

Director of Tourism in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism, Isaac Katopola said the policy has been put in a way that it would help creating an enabling environment for the development, regulation and promotion of a sustainable tourism sector which enhances tourist experiences and satisfaction whilst improving the socio-economic wellbeing and maintaining cultural identity of the local communities.

“It is our hope that the policy will be launched by December 2019. The policy seeks to address among others; issues of limited destination marketing in some markets, low service quality being offered due to skills shortages and lack of capacity, low investment, and inadequate tourism information base,” Katopola said.

Some of the key recommendations in the policy include; mainstreaming of tourism issues at all planning levels to enhance integrated planning, comprehensive review of the tourism law to replace the Tourism and Hotels Act of 1964.

It will also see development of tourism functions to local assemblies for better planning, quality assurance and promotion and development of a national tourism investment masterplan to direct investment in the country.